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You are understandably stressed out about starting college- it's a big transition in your life. But trust me, once you start classes and get into the routine of things, you will be a college student, and not a high school graduate who's freaking out over starting something new.
To answer your questions:
. Laptop: you may or may not choose to take it to class. There might be a few students who do (to take notes or goof off), but most people just take notes on paper. What you do is entirely up to you. You will definitely use it for writing papers, homework, etc, but probably not for taking notes in class, unless you feel more comfortable typing- your call.
. Study Time: They will estimate about 1-2 hours of study time for every hours of class, but it's only an estimate. You will have to study a lot more than in high school, but every class/professor is different. I always had one or two relatively easy classes, and a couple of difficult classes that I had to study the most for. You have to manage your study time according to which classes have the most material and/or are the most difficult. You will probably slack off a bit, but try not to do that too much. Keep on top of everything throughout the semester and you should be fine. I highly recommend attending a lecture/workshop on time management and study skills. All universities offer them- you can ask the office or an adviser for details.
.Books: you will not need books the first day of class, but usually by the second or third lecture, depending. I HIGHLY recommend buying used books online for cheaper than the school bookstore. If you need a book right away, get it used at the bookstore, rather than new- much cheaper. I saved a lot of money searching online. You can look online to see which books you will need, and buy them ahead of time. When i was in college, I went to the first class, got the class syllabus (lists which book will be needed), and ordered books online the first week.
.Finding your way around: Don't be afraid to ask. It might take you a couple weeks to get adjusted- you can print out a campus map online, or ask the office for one. When in doubt, ask. People will be helpful, trust me.
As for any additional tips: have fun, but be safe. Do not get caught up with binge drinking, sleeping around, etc., although unfortunately these things make up "college life" in the US, they are totally meaningless activities.
Instead, try to get involved in different clubs/organizations, go out and explore what the surrounding city/town has to offer, make good friends, etc.. also, try not to get too behind on studying, it does add up! Mainly, relax and enjoy your college years!
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